Drug, Alcohol and Weapons Laws

Students’ Responsibilities Under the Law

Students have the same rights and responsibilities as other citizens and are expected to follow College policies and applicable federal, state, and local laws.

Students’ and Employees’ Responsibilities Under the Drug-Free schools, Workplace, and Community Acts

Mount Holyoke College follows the federal Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act of 1986, as amended, and the Drug-Free Workplace Act of 1988, as amended, and complies with all current laws regarding the sale, use, and possession of illegal narcotics and alcohol. Mount Holyoke
College policies attempt to provide a healthy environment by preventing the use of illegal drugs or abuse of alcohol within the College community and in response to the federal drug-free legislation.

Mount Holyoke College prohibits the unlawful manufacture, distribution, dispensation, possession, or use of controlled sub¬¬stances and alcohol by any member of the faculty, staff, or student body on College property or at any College-sponsored function, whether on or off the campus, and requires the cooperation of the entire campus community in its pursuit to maintain a drug-free environment in all phases of campus life.

Any faculty, staff member, or student who violates this prohibition, or who does not cooperate with the College in its attempts to maintain a drug-free environment, will face disciplinary action up to and including expulsion or dismissal from the College and may be required, as a condition of continuing the faculty/staff/student relationship with the College, to enroll at her or his own expense in a substance abuse counseling and treatment program.

In accordance with federal law, if you were convicted of a drug offense in any criminal proceeding while you were receiving federal student aid (such as grants, loans, or work-study), it may affect your eligibility for financial aid. Refer to the Student Handbook or the Public Safety Web site for more information about the federal, state, local, and campus sanctions against illegal drug and alcohol use and abuse, possession, distribution and dispensation offense. In addition, the Drug-Free Workplace Act of 1988 requires any employee (including students working under the Federal Work Study Program) directly engaged in working at Mount Holyoke College under provisions of a federal grant or a contract who is convicted under a criminal drug statute for conduct in the workplace (site for performance of work done in connection with a particular federal grant or contract) must report this conviction to the College no later than five days after the conviction. Once informed of such a conviction, the College is required by law to notify the federal contractor or grantor within ten days after an employee’s conviction or within ten days after it has actual knowledge of such conviction, which¬ever is earlier.

Guidelines for community responsibility, specific rules and regulations governing the consumption of alcoholic beverages at College social functions, sanctions against infractions of the social honor code or violations of College policies by any member of the College community, and descriptions of campus drug and alcohol abuse programs are outlined in the Handbook of Faculty Legislation and Related Information, the Student Handbook, and the Staff Handbook. If questions arise related to any of these guidelines or policies, direct them to the appropriate College department.

Faculty, staff, and students are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the local resources for substance abuse, counseling, and treatment. (A list of resources is available on the Public Safety site.) In addition, the counseling services of the Alcohol and Drug Awareness Project and the College’s Health Center are available to assist students with substance-related problems; in emergency situations, faculty and staff may also request their services.

The legal drinking age in Massachusetts is 21.Individuals violating any Town of South Hadley ordinances, Massachusetts criminal laws, or federal laws relating to alcohol (including underage consumption) or drug use also risk fines and imprisonment. The College will not protect those who violate state and federal laws. Public Safety officers always have the option to arrest.

Violators of campus policies and/or criminal laws may be subject to removal from campus grounds, disciplinary action, and/or criminal action.

Firearms and Other Weapons

Massachusetts General Laws prohibit the possession of a firearm on a college campus without written approval from the president of the college or designee by anyone including those legally licensed unless they are law enforcement officers. Additionally the College does not allow students, faculty, staff, or visitors to carry, possess, or store dangerous weapons, as defined by Massachusetts laws, on the campus.
Questions about any type of weapon can be answered by Public Safety.